Construction and Maintenance Projects

Construction and Maintenance Projects

The County’s transportation network consists of more than 2,000 miles of paved and gravel roads, and related right-of-way assets. The Engineering Division’s Traffic Engineering, Design, Construction Management, Real Estate, and Infrastructure Planning Sections handle all aspects of the transportation system including policy and standards, planning, and contract project execution. The Operations Division’s Highway Section handles in-house maintenance and repair of County roads and bridges, drainage, signs and signals, and right-of-way. Below is detailed information about current capital construction projects, transportation planning, road maintenance, and other highway projects.

Please click on the individual projects below to find out if any road closures / detours are in place.

Project Details:
To accommodate Fort Carson’s ongoing expansion, El Paso County is working with the Army to improve the roadway infrastructure from I-25 to Gate 19 to access the base’s military training infrastructure. The roads leading to Gate 19 are in substandard condition and are unable to support expected traffic. The project will reconstruct Charter Oak Ranch Road and Santa Fe Avenue leading to Gate 19 at the Fort Carson Army Post.

Project: Chipita Park Road Drainage Improvements at Sand Gulch

Project Details:
The project will generally consist of realigning and armoring approximately 600 feet of the existing Sand Gulch Channel between US 24 and Chipita Park Road, installing a 10’ x 6’ concrete box culvert under Chipita Park Road, construction of an armored channel that will feed in to Fountain Creek, constructing a portion of Ute Pass trail that crosses Sand Gulch, and relocating a private driveway.

This project is a joint effort between El Paso County, the City of Manitou Springs, and the City of Colorado Springs. El Paso County is managing this multi-jurisdictional project. The Corridor Study phase developed recommendations for short-term transportation and safety improvements, and a long range livable, walkable, economic vision for the 1.5 miles of West Colorado and Manitou Avenues between North 31st Street and the US-24 interchange. The planning phase of the project (funded by CDOT) concluded with a Public Open House on March 20, 2013, in which the preferred three lane option, as recommended by citizens and stakeholders, was presented to the public. The three lane option involves one traffic lane in each direction eastbound and westbound and a center left-turn lane. A dedicated left turn lane would reduce accidents, primarily caused by cars stopping to make left turns on the current cross-section. The preliminary design phase (funded by CDOT) was completed in late 2014, and resulted in 30 percent design plans for the corridor. Final design was substantially completed in 2016 culminating in an RFP being issued for construction in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The major project elements include roadway improvements, a new bridge and wall structures associated with the relocation of portions of Fountain Creek and the Midland trail, signals, drainage and utility improvements including new water and sanitary facilities, street lighting, and undergrounding of most of the overhead electric and communication lines, sidewalks, and streetscape/landscaping elements.

Project: Elbert Road Bridge Deck Replacement

Project Details:
El Paso County Public Works will be performing bridge deck replacement work along Elbert Road between Latigo Road and Murphy Road starting in June 2019. Weather permitting, the project is expected to take about 12 weeks. Motorists are encouraged to use Latigo Road, Eastonville Road, and Murphy Roads as detours during construction. These gravel routes through neighborhoods require drivers to travel at low speeds. Those using the alternate routes should plan for added travel time. Drivers are reminded to reduce speeds, and to watch for workers, equipment, signs, and barricades. El Paso County road maintenance crews wish to thank drivers in advance for their cooperation. The full road closure will accelerate the safe and efficient completion of this project. Funding is provided through the El Paso County Road and Bridge fund and Federal Funds (shared 20/80 split).

Project Details:
This project consists of two PPRTA “A” list Capital Projects (US-24/”New” Meridian/”Old” Meridian intersection improvements and “New” Meridian extension from US-24 to Falcon Highway) as well as the federally funded Falcon Park and Ride project. Advancing these projects together will result in reduced project costs. The intersection of “New” Meridian/US-24 will be a full movement signalized intersection, and the intersection of “Old” Meridian/US-24 will revert the full movement legs of “Old” Meridian to right in/right out accesses. “New” Meridian Road will be connected to US-24 on the north side and an extension will be constructed and continue south to Falcon Highway. A Park and Ride facility will be constructed south of US-24 adjacent to “New” Meridian.

Project: Highway 105

Project Details:
The corridor study was completed in late 2012 and information posted to the website. Project Segment A (I-25 to Lake Woodmoor Drive) has been approved for federal funding and will move forward into preliminary design in 2015. The remainder of the project improvements (from Lake Woodmoor Drive to SH 83) is funded through the reauthorization of the voter approved PPRTA Capital program, and preliminary design will commence in 2015. El Paso County will update this status as the project changes.

Project Update, January 2019: El Paso County continues to move forward with the Highway 105 corridor improvements from Interstate 25 to State Highway 83. The design, property acquisition, and construction for these improvements are being accomplished in multiple phases. El Paso County has an agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for federal funding for final design and construction of the first segment of the project, known as Project A, from the I-25 interchange east ramps, approximately 1 mile to Lake Woodmoor Drive. The Project will extend the four-lane section east of Knollwood Drive and include improved shoulders, additional turn lanes, and sidewalks.

Ongoing goals for Project A include completing the preliminary and final designs and property acquisition. The design is based upon recommendations made in the 2013 Corridor Preservation Plan, and incorporates an update to this study. The purpose of this traffic study update is to document any changes in traffic conditions and analyses, to update the recommendations from the previous study, if required, and to further refine the recommendations for this first phase of the project. Additionally, El Paso County is in discussions with a few remaining individual property owners, and will continue to take direction from the Board of El Paso County Commissioners (BoCC) and the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Board of Directors. These “behind the scene” activities are quite involved, and require extensive time to ensure we meet all regulatory requirements. We anticipate completing the final design for the first segment by Winter 2019, and subject to property acquisition, anticipate construction for this segment to begin the Fall 2019.

A future public meeting to discuss the remainder of the corridor is tentatively planned for later in the design process, but has not yet been scheduled. Further details on the public meeting including date and location will be posted on this Project website in the upcoming months. The reports and presentation materials from the previous corridor study are also available and can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

Funding for final design and construction of the remainder of the corridor, from Lake Woodmoor Drive to SH-83, is included in the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Capital funding program over the next 10 years. The phasing and construction of future projects has not yet been determined, but will be evaluated as part of the ongoing preliminary design.

Project: Marksheffel Rd. and Meadowbrook Pkwy Intersection

Project Details: This project consists of a complete traffic analysis and the design/construction of the intersection improvements. Expected improvements include adding traffic signals to the intersection, adding additional turn/through lanes on Meadowbrook Parkway, and some minor drainage and sidewalk adjustments.

Project: McLaughlin/Old Meridian Roundabout

Project Details:
The project is a safety improvement which will construct a roundabout and associated pedestrian facilities at the intersection and approaches. The improvements will reduce traffic accidents and conflicts, reduce driver confusion, and efficiently handle future traffic volumes.

Project: Monument Hill Road

Project Details:
The 2.4 mile corridor provides access to local residents while significant traffic is using this route as a frontage road for I-25 and collector access to Monument. This road is the main access to Palmer Ridge High School and has many safety issues and a high accident history. The voter approved PPRTA funded capital project is expected to provide safety improvements to Monument Hill Road that includes sight distance, horizontal and vertical improvements, surface paving, drainage, intersection improvements, and shoulders for bicycles and pedestrians.

Project Team: El Paso County/AECOM (design) / Yeh & Assoc (CM) / Schmidt Construction
Road Closure: Yes
Detour Route: During Phase I (Winter 2018 – Spring 2019), Monument Hill Road is closed from Woodmoor Drive to the south entrance of Monument Hill Church, just south of Deer Creek Road intersection. Deer Creek Road serves as the detour route for access to the northern portion of Monument Hill Road. During Phase II (estimated Spring/Summer 2019), Monument Hill Road will be closed north of the entrance of Monument Hill Church to just south of the southern entrance of Palmer Ridge High School. Woodmoor Drive, Furrow Road, and County Line Road will serve as the detour route for access to the northern portion of Monument Hill Road.
Project Type: PPRTA
Cost: $5,000,000
Project Manager: John Lantz
Contact: dotweb@elpasoco.com or 719-520-6460
Project Website: N/A
Schedule: Design 2015-2018, Construction 2018-2019

Project: Struthers/Gleneagle Roundabout

Project Details:
Construction of Struthers/Gleneagle roundabout and intersection improvements, as well as curb and gutter/drainage/pedestrian improvements along the north side of Struthers Road, between Gleneagle Drive & North Gate Boulevard.